Ceratizit Acquires KOMET
This deal creates one of the top five global players in the international cutting tools market.
Posted: October 21, 2017
Ceratizit S.A. (Mamer, Luxembourg) has acquired KOMET Group GmbH (Besigheim, Germany). The transaction is still subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities. “The disruptive changes in the market environment pose enormous challenges for us,” says Dr. Christof Bönsch, the chief executive officer of the KOMET Group. “This acquisition now opens up new opportunities for sustainable growth. The takeover sees the emergence of a new global player with superior technology expertise and broad market access.
“This move lifts the close and long-standing partnership between our two companies to a new level,” adds Jacques Lanners, the chairman of the executive board of Ceratizit. “It opens up completely new prospects both for our customers and our employees.” Ceratizit is committed to Germany as a key production and innovation hub. “Employees can look forward to a positive and attractive future because, as a privately owned company, Ceratizit is keen to develop their sites in a sustainable manner,” notes Bönsch. The implementation of the “KOMET 2026” strategy will continue in order to ensure the safety of the jobs.
The KOMET brand will play a pivotal role in the Ceratizit Group cutting tools strategy. Going forward, customers will have an even stronger partner in all areas of cutting tools technology, from turning and milling to the complete machining of holes. “The synergies in terms of technical expertise in substrate development, sintering technology, cutting tools technologies and coating are substantial and represent significant added value for our customers,” explains Lanners.
The growing importance of digitalization is a key issue for the future. KOMET has carved out an excellent position in this field with their “Digital Productivity Solutions” and will assume an important role within the Ceratizit Group in developing innovative products in the Industry 4.0 domain. In addition to offering digital solutions, KOMET realigned themselves with two additional business areas: “Productivity Components” and “Engineered Productivity Solutions” are aimed at providing customers with exactly the tools they need to boost their productivity.
These two companies come together to become one of the top five global players in the international cutting tools market, with more than 9,000 employees at 34 production sites worldwide that will manufacture tools in close proximity to customers. Their product portfolio is game-changing and covers all major cutting tools technologies. This acquisition marks the continued implementation of the Ceratizit Group’s successful growth strategy that has enabled them to double sales in the past ten years, while strengthening their position in core markets. The positive synergies generated by the complementary product and customer portfolios of both companies will create new growth opportunities in the medium term.
www.ceratizit.com, www.kometgroup.com
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